Interim governing body set up to run India-built Cultural Centre in Jaffna

An interim governing body, comprising senior officials, local body representatives, artistes and professionals, has been set up to run the India-built Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre in Sri Lanka’s Northern Province.

Issuing a statement on Monday (September 21, 2026), the Indian High Commission in Colombo said a Trust was formally established on September 18, 2026, to administer and manage the Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre. Terming the move “a decisive step” in operationalising the facility, the High Commission said the Trust will act as an interim governing body, providing administrative and financial autonomy for the Centre’s “sustained operations”. The Trust, the statement said, is “an effective transitional mechanism” aimed at building institutional capacity to help the Centre become operational with financial self-sustainability, until it is handed over to the Municipal Council of Jaffna.

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The Trust Board comprises four ex-officio members: Municipal Commissioner of Jaffna, Mayor of Jaffna Municipal Council, a Minister of Northern Provincial Administration (or nominee), and Secretary to Sri Lanka’s Ministry of Buddhasasana, Religious and Cultural Affairs. Five other eminent experts, from the fields of arts & culture, commerce, education, law, and science & technology, all from Jaffna, are also part of the Board.

Originally named the Jaffna Cultural Centre the facility is an 11-storeyed structure, with an auditorium that can seat 600 persons, a conference hall, an amphitheatre and a digital library. Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2015 laid the foundation stone for the Cultural Centre, which India financed with a $12 million-grant. It was completed in early 2020. Following its construction, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar virtually inaugurated the building during his visit to Colombo in 2022, and in 2023, the building was dedicated to the people of Jaffna. With concerns over the municipality lacking funds to run the facility raising questions about its future, India also offered additional financial and administrative support for five years.

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Early last year, the centre came into focus owing to a controversy surrounding an attempt to change its name, leaving out the word ‘Jaffna’. A strong backlash from politicians and intellectuals in Jaffna, over the renaming the India-built Jaffna Cultural Centre as Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre, later prompted Indian authorities to put up yet another name board with the name “Yazhpanam Thiruvalluvar Panpaattu Maiyam” [Jaffna Thiruvalluvar Cultural Centre].

Over the past few years, several cultural shows, including music and dance performances featuring local and Indian artistes, pattimandrams [debate/ talk shows], education and industry fairs, exhibitions, and administrative functions have been held at the venue, located adjacent to the iconic Jaffna Public Library.